Leaving the restaurant, Michael noticed two adjacent bookstores and decided to buy them to expand his restaurant.
The bookstore owners were initially resistant, but quickly agreed when he offered 2000 gold coins each.
Michael asked the system if he could borrow money from his mother in exchange for a 30% stake in the restaurant. The system agreed.
Michael then convinced his mother, explaining his desire for transparency and financial independence. Although they were wealthy, continuous depletion without income would eventually drain their savings.
Michael first purchased the bookstores, securing the entire space he envisioned for his grand restaurant.
He then contacted the people who would help him build the restaurant. In this world, there were different guilds for every kind of business.
Guilds were like communities of like-minded people who came together to help each other. At least, that was the shiny facade they presented.
In reality, guilds operated more like cults, starting with good intentions but eventually controlled by influential and wealthy individuals for their benefit.
Despite his reservations, Michael knew he needed the guild's help. It was the best place to hire workers for the construction and operation of his restaurant. He couldn't run a big restaurant all by himself.
The guild was located near other influential and prominent establishments in the city center.
As Michael made his way to the People's Guild, he noticed it was divided into several smaller guilds. There was the Alchemy Guild, Blacksmith Guild, Adventurers Guild, and more. Each mini-guild had its well-established area.
Michael was astonished by the vast area occupied by the entire guild. In a capital city where land was so expensive, this highlighted the immense power and influence of the guilds.
It also explained why he had to pay 2000 gold coins for each of the two stores—an amount that could have bought a large mansion in other cities in the kingdom.
He searched for a guild called The Builders Brigade, which specialized in building constructions. As he entered the guild, he saw various people handling their tasks.
The environment was lively, with builders discussing plans, examining blueprints, and coordinating projects.
Michael approached the reception desk, where a friendly-looking man greeted him. "Welcome to The Builders Brigade. How can I assist you today?"
Michael explained his plans for constructing a restaurant from scratch and his need for skilled workers.
The receptionist listened attentively and assured him they could help with the project.
He provided Michael with a list of available builders and craftsmen, along with their specialties and rates.
One thing Michael noticed was that most of the workers were Mage Apprentices.
Becoming a Mage wasn't easy, as learning magic required a lot of money. Although the Kingdom provided scholarships to bright individuals, not everyone could get one.
Guilds offered opportunities for people to work and earn money to improve their circumstances.
Since Michael wanted to complete the construction within five days, he hired more than double the workers needed.
He paid them some advance, with the rest due upon completion, and handed over the restaurant blueprint he had purchased from the system for 1 SP, highlighting key features he wanted to incorporate into the restaurant.
He instructed the workers to study the blueprint and meet him at the restaurant the next day.
He let them know that all the necessary materials had already been purchased and reminded them of their tasks, promising extra gold if he was pleased with their work.
The Mage Apprentices were thrilled to be hired by such a wealthy patron.
After a long day, Michael felt exhausted. He decided to visit the city lord's office the next day to register his business.
Despite the world's lack of development, there were systems in place to oversee such matters.
After reaching home he had dinner with his family and informed them about the restaurant's opening. Lila was so excited that she kept talking about it throughout the dinner.
After dinner, Michael checked the system to see everything required to make the restaurant. Since he was constructing the restaurant from scratch, he asked the system to show him a list of all the necessary materials.
The system efficiently provided a comprehensive list, detailing everything from building materials to kitchen equipment and furniture.
He reviewed the list carefully. It included high-quality wood and stone for construction, premium kitchen appliances, sturdy tables and chairs, and decorative items to create a welcoming atmosphere.
The system also suggested various magical enhancements for the restaurant, like enchanted lighting and self-cleaning surfaces, to set his restaurant apart from others.
Satisfied with the list, Michael started ordering the materials through the system. He was impressed by the efficiency and quality of the system's market.
He found everything he needed at competitive prices and the promise of swift delivery assured him of the project's smooth progress.
Next, Michael notified the workers that the materials would arrive soon. He provided them with the blueprint he had purchased from the system, highlighting key features he wanted to incorporate into the restaurant.
With the materials and contractors in place, Michael was filled with excitement and anticipation. His vision of a grand restaurant was becoming a reality, and he couldn't wait to see it come to life.
Tomorrow, he would register his business at the registration office.
Michael woke up early the next morning, knowing he had a busy day ahead. After breakfast, he quickly went to the city lord's office.
This was his first time visiting the office, a place the old Michael had never set foot in.
The area was bustling with activity; people were constantly going in and out, forming lines at various counters, with guards stationed everywhere.
As Michael approached the entrance, he heard a guard command, "Only those necessary can enter the office.
The rest must stay outside." Michael nodded and entered the office alone.
Inside, the grandeur of the city lord's office amazed him. It had high ceilings with detailed carvings and shiny marble floors.
The walls were decorated with rich tapestries showing historical scenes, giving the place a sense of history and importance. Chandeliers hung in the center of the room, and multiple counters offered different services.
Michael quickly located the counter for new business registrations, where only a few people were waiting in a queue. Well, it's understandable, it wasn't every day that new businesses were opened.
When it was his turn, Michael approached the counter and was greeted by a beautiful elf. Her striking beauty made him momentarily forget his purpose.
"Hello, Miss. My name is Michael Ashbluff. I want to register my restaurant business."
"Ashbluff?" The elf girl looked surprised.
"So you are the only son of Mr. Jacob Ashbluff. He used to talk about you a lot. I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Ashbluff."
For a moment, she looked at him with pity.
"Thank you, Miss. It's okay," Michael replied, not wanting to dwell on the subject.
She understood and handed him a form to fill out, asking for the name and purpose of his business, along with the ID card issued by the kingdom.
Michael quickly filled out the form, having already decided on a name for his restaurant: "The Happy Belly." He wanted his customers to leave with full bellies and satisfied smiles.
He returned the form to the elf, who smiled as she read it. "Oh, The Happy Belly. It's quite a unique name for a restaurant. If I get a chance, I'll come to eat there."
"You're welcome anytime. By the way, we're opening next week. I hope you visit my restaurant," Michael smiled and left the office.
[One Week Later]
Over the last week, the Mage Apprentices Michael hired worked diligently. With the blueprint already provided, it didn't take them long to build the restaurant according to Michael's specifications.
While the restaurant was being built, Michael didn't sit idle. He visited nearly all the major restaurants in the city to study their food standards and the services they offered to customers.
Michael was shocked to discover that most dishes were quite bland. The city's food culture was not well-developed.
Although the food served to nobles was tasty, the ingredients, especially spices, were quite expensive and not accessible to everyone.
When he asked his mother about the spices, she explained that they had to order them from Elysia, the neighboring elf kingdom.
The climate of Elysia was ideal for growing a variety of spices. The kingdom has centuries of experience in cultivating, harvesting, and processing spices.
Some spices were also used for medicinal purposes, which made them scarce for cooking.
Michael realized that the people of this world had limited knowledge about farming.
He saw an opportunity to make money by improving agricultural practices but first, he focused on making his restaurant successful.
After conducting his survey, Michael understood what people would love to eat and began creating dishes to serve in his restaurant.
The MasterChef (Beginner) skill provided him with many recipes, but he couldn't serve them all. Therefore, he started with three dishes, confident that once people tasted his food, they wouldn't want to eat ordinary food again.
Michael decided to feature three main dishes at his restaurant: Herb-Roasted Chicken, Elven Garden Salad, and Golden Honey Bread Pudding.
He ordered the ingredients from the System.
"Hey System, I want to have a deal with you."
"What Deal?"
"This is going to be my first time running the restaurant and I don't have a clear idea how much SP I will need to operate it.
Why don't you sell me the ingredients on credit and charge the money at the end of the day? It will be a win-win for both of us"
"Okay, Host."
Michael was surprised that the money-grubbing system had agreed easily.
He started creating dishes according to the recipes provided by his MasterChef (Beginner) skill.
With his expertise, the dishes seemed comparatively easy to make, as if he had practiced them for a long time.
After preparing the food, he decided to taste each of the three dishes. Upon eating them, he felt a surge of energy but couldn't pinpoint the exact source of this feeling.
"Hey System, why do I feel so energized after eating the food?" Michael inquired.
"It's normal," the system responded.
"All the ingredients this system procures come from a world rich in spiritual energy. If you consume this food every day, your mortal body will gain resistance to common ailments like colds or fevers. It also has some other benefits depending on who is eating it.
Some ingredients can also help enrich souls, which mages highly seek after.
However, you will need MasterChef (Intermediate) skills to create those advanced dishes.
Additionally, you must be at least a Tier 3 mage to handle the ingredients properly, as your body requires enough strength to manage them.
So, keep working hard and get powerful as quickly as possible."
Michael was surprised by this. Now he is sure that his restaurant business will shock the entire world.
He continued eating the food and tried to see if he could perfect them.